EPIC ACHIEVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 188, 6 May 1940, Page 11

EPIC ACHIEVEMENT

Worthy Of National

Occasion

PRESIDENT’S REVIEW

Message Of Encouragement

For Future

“The epic achievement represented by the Exhibition was not attained without the expenditure of much energy, thought, and co-operation,” said the president of the Exhibition and Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sullivan. “That all this was justified, and that the result has been worthy of a great national occasion will not be gainsaid by any.

“I am convinced that all of the two millions and a half people who have visited the Exhibition have been deeply impressed with what they have seen,” Mr. Sullivan said. “No one could see the evidences of our development in all walks of national life and not be thrilled and inspired. “And now the end draws near. A flood of conflicting emotions passes through our being. We are proud of what the Exhibition has revealed to us. The friendships we have cemented with the ambassadors of goodwill who have represented overseas Governments have been a source of pleasure. The concord that has exemplified all the relationships between the directors and the Government, between the many exhibitors and the management, in fact, the harmonious relationships that have been so outstanding a feature- of the entire venture, will all leave the pleasantest of memories in all our hearts. Splendid Public Spirit. “As- president of the Exhibition Company I would like to express the appreciation I feel for the splendid public and national spirit that has been shown by the directors and the shareholders, together with the co-operation of the Government, in making it possible for New Zealand to stage so composite and so effective a display to represent our first 100 years. There was never any thought of personal gain, even had the Exhibition been a financial success- —and it certainly won’t be that, due to circumstances ’that need not be related in detail. Suffice it to say that the war and other factors did not improve the outlook from the Start. The directors have given their services to the nation, the shareholders haye given their capital, and this combined with the assistance of the Government gave us the finest display ever staged in this country. “The effort has been a national one in everj’ sense of the word. The Government has taken a live interest in the venture, and this is clearly shown in the fact that in the first place a grant of £50,000 was made to the funds of the company. In addition, 25,000 shares were taken out, and at that time an undertaking was given that the Government would take further shares to the extent of £13,000, this representing a £ for £ basis of the 26,000 shares then unallotted. Working capital was necessary to bring the scheme to fruition, so the Government agreed to guarantee the company’s overdraft at the bank to the extent of £125,000. These figures show the interest the Government rightly took in the Exhibition, but the participation of the State went further than that. A further sum of £75,000 was allocated for the purpose of making the very fine display of State activity housed in the Government Court. Late Mr. Savage’s Interest. “I would like to thank my colleagues in the Cabinet for the ready help they always gave, and for the sympathy they ever showed with the project. The late Prime Minister evinced a live interest in all that was transpiring and I would pay tribute to his unflagging zeal for the furtherance of the Centennial celebrations as represented in the Exhibition. His attitude was typical of every member of the Government and I thank them for all they have done. “I think, too, that it w-ould be fitting at this time to pay a sincere tribute to the chairman of directors, Mr. Hislop. We thank his fellow-directors, the management, the staff, the exhibitors, the architects and the contractors, in general, we express our thanks to everyone who in any way whatsoever contributed to the success of the venture.

“The measure of public support has been probably less than was anticipated, but we will not gauge the success of the Exhibition by that standard. Rather will we look back on the Exhibition as the end of one epoch of national life and tlie starting-place where we received fresh impetus and renewed ideals and vision to go on into the future imbued with zeal stiil further to improve the nation that has given so much to us. To the extent

that the Exhibition has so inspired us individually as citizens, and collectively as a nation—to that extent will we measure the success of the Exhibition. Work of Nation-Building. “New Zealand has led the way in social and humanitarian work before. We can do so again, and I trust that as we say farewell to the Exhibition the message of encouragement it lias spelt will serve to instil in all of us the inspiration to make our fullest possible contribution to the prosecution of the war effort; to carry on the work of nation-building so that our men when they return will have something worthwhile to which they can return; and that as we build anew we will so plan and direct our energies that ultimate good will ensue and our progress and development -continue.”